Knee brace



Jul 31, 1962 E. R. BIGGS, JR, ETAL 3,046,981

KNEE BRACE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 29, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS.

ATTORNEYS July 31, 1962 E. R. BIGGS, JR, ETAL KNEE BRACE Filed April 29,1957 3,046,981 KNEE BRACE Ernest R. Riggs, J12, Columbus, and Hector E.Lewis,

Cincinnati, Ohio, assignors to Surgical Appliance Industries, Inc,Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 29, 1957, Ser. No.655,689 13 Claims. (Cl. 128-80) This invention relates to protectivebandages and is particularly directed to an elastic knee brace adaptedto prevent injuries to the knees of athletes and to protect previouslyinjured knees against reinjury.

During the past twenty-five years and particularly within the lastdecade, substantial improvement has been made in the protectiveequipment provided for football players and other athletes. For example,plastic helmets utilizing newly developed foam padding and special strapsuspensions have greatly increased the protection aiforded to theplayers head. Similarly, newly developed shoulder pads, hip pads, andthigh guards provide substantially increased protection to other areasof the players body.

However, up to the present time there has not been developed a removablebrace for effectively protecting a players knees. As will readily beappreciated, an athletes knees are extremely prone to serious injurysince the knee joint is not only a weak joint but is additionally aweight bearing joint. At the present time, it is conventional practiceto protect an injured knee by applying a complex adhesive tape strappingto the knee. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly common practice,as a preventive measure, to tape the knee of every player prior to everypractice as well as every game. For a large squad, this requires severalskilled trainers and substantial amounts of tape material. It has beenestimated that it costs approximately $3.00 per player every time hisknees are taped; over a period of a season, this runs into severalthousand dollars for a single football team. Furthermore, it requires asubstantial amount of time for even a large number of trainers toproperly tape an entire squad.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a removablebrace which is completely adjustable and can be applied by a playerwithout any assistance, the brace being effective to provide a maximumamount of protection to the knee, both to prevent initial injury and toprotect any previous injury.

More particularly, the present invention is predicated upon the conceptof providing a unitary knee brace which is effective to apply to theknee joint supporting pressures at those locations most prone to injury,which locations are normally supported by tape applied in accordancewith the best taping practices heretofore devised.

More particularly, a knee brace constructed in accordance with thepresent invention comprises a sleeve of elast c material which is placedover the knee joint and functions to apply a confining pressure to thejoint and to support a plurality of straps adapted to support criticalligaments. In one embodiment, the sleeve is a continuous tubular member;while in a second embodiment, the sleeve is divided along an axial, orvertical line extending along the front of the players knee. The twoadjacent edges of the sleeve are joined together along this line by alacing which is initially adjusted by the player to provide the desiredtension on the sleeve; this adjustment is not normally thereafterchanged since the sleeve is sufliciently elastic to permit it to beremoved and replaced.

Either type of sleeve carries two foam pads and three main straps. Twoof these straps are attached to the lower portion of the sleeve and arewound helically around the rear of the knee joint, where the strapscross each other; the straps are then continued upwardly to anadjustable securement across the front upper portion of the sleeve.

The third, or lateral, strap is secured to the center rear portion ofthe sleeve and is preferably divided to cover both the medial andlateral aspect of the joint. Each end of this strap carries two upperand two lower angulated straps which respectively pass above the kneecap and below the knee cap and function to maintain pressure on the foampads held over the body of the ligament and joint spaces by the sleeve.

Any tendency of the sleeve to shift from its correct position isminimized by the provision of a small central opening over the kneecapwhich facilitates normal motion of the kneecap and substantially reducesthe forces on the elastic sleeve and straps. Additionally, the rear ofthe sleeve carries a stay member which helps to prevent the sleeve frombunching, or wrinkling, unduly without in any manner impairing theflexibility of the sleeve. This stay can be removed by a player ifdesired without impairing the basic functioning of the device.

In use, it is a simple matter for an athlete to slip the sleeve memberover his foot and slide it into proper position with respect to hisknee. Thereafter the laces, if the sleeve is of the lacing type, andvarious adjustable straps are tightened to the desired tension. Thepresent brace can be completely adjusted in a short time without anyassistance from a trainer or other personnel.

One of the principal advantages of the present brace is that it providesa firm, even support over the knee joint structures and joint space,which support can readily be duplicated each time the brace is applied.Consequently, the brace provides an athlete with maximum protectionagainst initial injury to his knee, as well as maximum protectionagainst reinjury to a hurt knee.

A further advantage of the present knee brace is that it provides greateconomy since it eliminates the need for trained personnel to bandageathletes knees, and also eliminates the substantial material cost forthe tape itself.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the brace isextremely versatile. The same brace can be used on either knee; andfurthermore, since the sleeve and its associated straps are adjustable,the same brace can be worn by many different players. Moreover, thebrace can readily be adapted to suit the preferences of each individualathlete. Thus, if a player finds that he does not require a stay member,he can remove it. Similarly, if he does not care to use one or both ofthe pads, they can be removed Without impairing the support provided bythe rest of the brace.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more readily apparent from a consideration of the followingdetailed description of the drawings illustrating a preferred embodimentof the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of one preferred brace constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention, showing thestraps in an outstretched disconnected position.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view 'of the brace as it would beapplied to a players knee.

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the brace as it would be appliedto a players knee.

FIGURE 4 is a partial perspective view of the front of the brace showingthe straps disconnected.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a semi-diagrammatic fragmentary view of one suitable form ofspring stay incorporated in the brace.

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line 7 7 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing a second preferred formof brace; and

Patented July 31, 1%2

"where cartilage injuries most frequently occur.-

tion and substantially unelastic yarns running in the verticaldirection. The fabric sheet-constituting sleeve 12 is not continuous butis divided at two adjacent vertical edges 13. The sheet is bound alongthese edges by leather pieces 14, best shown in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5.Midway between the upper and lower ends of the sleeve, the verticaledges have semi-circular cuts bound with semi-circular leather pieces 16to provide a front opening 18. A plurality of spaced eyelets 20 areinserted in suitable apertures formed in the leather binding pieces 14-and sleeve material. These eyelets are adapted to receive lace-s 22 and23 which are preferably slightly elastic, and respectively join thevertical edges of the fabric sleeve 12 above and below opening 18 toform a tubular brace member.

. Upper and lower leather tongues, or guards, 24 are stitched to one ofthe leather pieces 14 above and below opening '18. These tongues extendalong the inner surface of the sleeve immediately behind the laces andfunotion'to prevent the Wearers skin from being pinched when the bandageis tightly laced. These tongues also provide a continuous supportsurface over the area between the spaced vertical edges of the bandage.

Disposed on opposite sides of the front opening 18 are generallycrescent or heart shaped pockets 26. These pockets are formed of anelastic material and are adapted to receive crescent shaped resilientfoam pad members 28 (FIGURE A pad 28 is inserted in each pocket througha suitable mouth preferably disposed adjacent to central opening 18 andof a width substantially narrower than the width of the pad. Pads 28maintain pressure over both lateral and medial joint. spacesAdditionally, these pads function to absorb the force of blows directedat the sides of the knee joint.

The rear portion of sleeve 12 carries a fabric strip 30 which extendsparallel to the axis of the sleeve and is stitched to the sleevematerial in areas 3-1 and 32 adjacent to the upper and lower edges ofthe strip. The stitching also extends along opposite ends of strip 39 asat 33 to define two facing pockets 36 and 38. These pockets 36 and 33receive a flat stay member40 which extends substantially thevertica-l'length of the sleeve. Stay member 40 functions to preventundue bunching or wrinkling of the sleeve by keeping the upper and loweredges of the sleeve spaced at a predetermined distance. Stay member 40can readily be flexed in any transverse direction but cannot becompressed longitudinally.

More particularly, stay member 46 comprises two fiattened' helicalspring elements 41 and 42. These elements are, interleaved as shown inFIGURE 6, it being understood that the elements 41 and 42 are moreclosely compacted in practice than is indicated in FIGURE 6. Each end ofthe stay member is provided with a generally .U? shaped cap 43 which ischanneled to receive the ends of the helical spring elements, thechannel portions of the cap being compressed tightly against the'springelements to hold them in an assembled relationship.

At the central portion of the sleeve, strip 30 is not stitched to thefabric sleeve forming a loop 44 adapted to receive diagonal bracingstraps 45 and 46 which pass between the sleeve 12 and strip 30. Thisportion of the strip 30 also carries male portions of two snap fasteners47, the cooperating female fastener elements being carried by lateralbracing strap 48.

. l 54). This cross member is preferably formed of oneway stretch fabricstretchable in generally a horizontal direction. A horizontal slit 51extends across the central portion of cross member 5 which forconvenience may be fabricated from two separate lengths of material. Theslit 51 does not extend to the ends of cross member 543, the endwiseportions of member 59 adjacent the slit being stitched at at 52 and 53.

Each end of main cross piece 50 carries angul-arly extending upper andlower elastic strips 54, 55 joined to strap 56 as by stitching indicatedat 56. A length of webbing 57 is stitched or otherwise joined to thefree end of each of the strips 54, 55. The lengths of webbing joined tostrips 54 and 55 are adapted for respective engagement with buckles 58and 60 carried by attaching straps 6162. Attaching straps 61 areconstituted by lengths of webbing securedto the upper rear portion of vsleeve 12 and strip 30 by means of the stitching 31 deof tension.

scribed above. Attaching straps 62 are. also formed'of webbing, thesestraps being joinedto sleeve 12 and strip 36 adjacent to the lower rearedge of the sleeve by means mounted on the free end thereof which asexplained be-;

low is adapted to cooperate with end 66 of attaching strap 61. In thesame manner, strap 46 has a buckle 67 mounted on the free end thereoffor cooperative engagement with end 63 of attaching strap 61.

While the exact dimensions of the straps employed are not critical,inthe preferred embodiment main cross strap .8 is made 4 wide, whilediagonal straps 45 and 46 are 3" wide. Angulated straps 54 and 55attached to main cross strap 56 are 2" wide, while the webbing 57secured to the ends of these latter straps and used to form attachingstraps 61, and 62 is 1 /2" wide. Sleeve 12 is approximately 11" inheight. I

For purposes of conciseness in the following description of themanner'in which the brace is applied to an athletes leg, it will beassumed that the brace is being applied to the wearers right knee. It isto be understood, however, that the same brace may be applied to eitherthe right or left leg. When a player applies'a brace to his knee, hefirst wraps diagonal straps 45 and 46 rearwardly around the front ofsleeve 12 as shown in FIGURE 4, and crosses them beneath the loop 44formed in strip 30 so that diagonal straps 45 and 46 pass between sleeve12 and strap 3!).

.Lateral support strap 48 is then secured to strip 30 by bringing thefemale elements of snap fasteners 47 carried by cross strap 56 intoengagement with the male elements of these snap fasteners secured tostrip 30. It is to be understood that stay 40 has previously beeninserted in pockets 36, 38 and extendsaxially along the outer rearsurface of sleeve 12 beneath strip 36. Next, the player slides sleeve 12over his leg until central opening .13 is brought into registry with thefront of his kneecap. Thereafter, he tightens laces 22 and 23 until thesleeve 12 applies the desired amount of pressure over his knee jointarea. Once this last adjustment has been made, the laces are normallynot touched since the sleeve and laces are sufliciently elastic topermit the sleeve to be slipped on and oh over the players knee withoutloosening'the laces.

the front portion of the sleeve; while each of the attaching straps 66,68 is wrapped around the rear portion of the sleeve and brought intocontact with the buckle associated .with the oppositely facing diagonalstrap, and these attaching straps are tightened to apply the desiredamount Next, upper angular straps 54- of the main .ment.

'5 lateral strap 48 are wrapped around the front of sleeve 12 as shownin FIGURE 2, the straps being wrapped in .a generally helical fashionand crossing each other as indicated at 70 in FIGURE 2. Thereafter, thelengths of webbing secured to straps 54 are continued around the sidesof the sleeve and attached to buckles 58 carried by attaching strap 61closely adjacent to strip 3!). Finally, lower angular straps 55 areWrapped around the front .part of the sleeve crossing each other at 71shown in .leg, crossing the inner aspect of the knee joint covering thetibial attachment of the knee ligament. then crosses theback of the kneecoming to the outer aspect of the knee joint, crossing the femoralattachment This strip of the lateral ligament. Similarly, diagonal strap46 begins at the inner aspect of the lower leg and crosses to the outeraspect of the knee joint covering the fibula attachment of the lateralligament. This strip crosses the back of the knee joint coming to theinner aspect and covering the femoral attachment of the medial ligament.Cross piece 50 of lateral support strap 48 disposed at the rear of thebrace covers both the medial and lateral aspects of the knee joint tomaintain pressure on the joint spaces. Straps 54 and 55 cross above andbelow the knee jointto provide a generally diamond configurationsurrounding the knee cap thereby applying a controhable pressure on theresilient pads.

The front opening 18 in the forward portion of sleeve 12 facilitatesnormal motion of the knee cap and functions to minimize tensions on thebasic elastic components of the brace preventing slipping of the brace.When properly adjusted, the brace is comfortable and provides a firm,even support over the entire knee joint.

A second preferred formof knee brace is "shown in FIGURES 8 and 9. Thebrace 72 shown in those figures functions in the same way to support andprotect an athletes knee as the brace of the first described embodiseveral respects. In the first place, brace 72 includes a sleeve 73which is continuous; specifically, the sleeve is a pads 76 in the samemanner as the pockets of the first embodiment. It is to be understoodthat the straps have been omitted from FIGURE 9 to clarify thedisclosure of sleeve 73.

Brace 72 also comprises a plurality of straps for ad- 'justably applyingpressure to various areas of the knee joint. More specifically, the rearportion of sleeve 72 carries a vertically extending fabric strip 77which is stitched to the sleeve as at 78 and 80. As in the firstembodiment, the side edges of strip 77 are stitched as at 81 and 82 toform facing pockets 83 and 84 adapted to receive a flat stay member,such as member 40 shown in FIGURE 6. V

Fabric strip 77 carries a lateral bracing strap 85. This strap and theadjacent portion of strip 77 are not stitched to sleeve 73 so that aloop is formed beneath lateral bracing strap 85 for receiving diagonalbracing straps 8'6 and 87.

Lateral strap 85 includes a main cross strap portion 88 which ispreferably formed of one-way stretch fabric in which the elastic threadsrun in a horizontal direction.

The ends of main cross strap portion 88 are divided to form angularlyextending upper and lower straps 90 and 91. Each of the upper and lowerstraps 90 and 91 carries a length of webbing 92 which is stitched to thestrap as at 93; The lengths of webbing carried by upper straps 90 areadapted for securance to buckles 94 carried by attaching straps 95. Thelengths of webbing 92 carried by lower straps 91 are similarly attachedto buckles 96 carried by attaching straps 97.

Attaching straps 95 are formed from lengths of webbing secured to theupper rear portion of the sleeve 73 by means of stitching 78. Attachingstraps 97 are likewise formed of webbing, these straps being stitchedadjacent to the lower end of the sleeve between the sleeve and strip 77by means of stitching 80;

Knee brace 72 further includes two crossed diagonal straps 86 and 87preferablyformed of a one-way stretch fabric. Strap 86 is secured to thelower rear portion of the sleeve and extends outwardly to the right inFIGURE 8. Similarly, diagonal strap 87 is secured to the lower rearportion of the sleeve and extends outwardly to the left in FIGURE 8.Each of these straps is wound in a helical manner around the front ofthe brace where the straps cross beneath the knee and is then broughtaround the rear of the sleeve and tucked beneath strip 77 where straps'86 and 87 cross as indicated at 98. Thereafter, when brace 72 isapplied to a knee, diagonal straps 86 and 87 are wound further in ahelical fashion around the front of the brace Where buckles 100 and 101of these straps are attached for respective engagement with end portions102 and 103 of attaching straps 95.

It will readily be appreciated that knee brace 72 is applied ingenerally the same manner as the first described knee brace. However,since sleeve 73 is not divided, it is unnecessary to make an initialadjustment of laces or the like.

However, brace 72 differs from the first brace in It has been found thatin practice that either knee brace is particularly advantageous sincethe brace can be modified to suit the preferences of each individualplayer without impairing the protection afforded by the brace. Thus someplayers prefer to remove stay 40, while others like to remove one orboth of the resilient pads, thereby relying solely upon the straps toapply pressure over the joint spaces. It has been found that thesechanges can be made forthe players comfort without appreciably affectingthe protection given by the brace.

From the foregoing disclosure of the general principles of the presentinvention and the above detailed description of two preferredembodiments, those skilled in the art Will comprehend variousmodifications to which the invention is susceptible. For example, it iscontemplated that sleeve 12 can be formed from a two-way stretchmaterial in place of the one-way stretch material used in theembodiments described above. 1

Having described our invention, We claim:

1. A knee brace comprising a sleeve of flexible material for surroundingsubstantially the entire leg portion ,at the knee area, a lateral bracestrap fixed intermediate its ends to the rear of said sleeve, saidlateral brace strap having upper strap portions extending in oppositedirections generally helically upwardly passing around the front of saidbrace above the kneecap and being connectable to the rear of said brace,said brace strap having lower strap portions extending in oppositedirections generally helically downwardly passing around the front ofsaid brace below the kneecap and means fixed to the rear of said sleevefor connecting the ends of said strap portions to the rear of saidbrace.

2. A knee brace comprising a sleeve of flexible material for surroundingsubstantially the entire leg portion at the knee area, said sleevehaving an opening in the front portion thereof through which the kneecapwill be exposed, a lateral brace strap fixed intermediate its ends tothe rear of said sleeve, said brace strap having upper strap portionsextending in opposite directions generally helically upwardly passingaround the front of said brace above the kneecap and being connect-ableto the rear of saidbrace, said brace strap having lower strap portionsextending in opposite directions generally helically downwardly passingaround the fi'ont'of said brace below the kneecap and means fixed to therear of said sleeve for connecting the ends of said strap portions tothe rear of said brace, and means carried by said sleeve at the rearportion thereof for preventing undue wrinkling of said portion.

3. A knee brace comprising a sleeve of resilient material beingstretchable in a circumferential direction, the sleeve being adapted tosurround the leg portion of the wearer at the knee area, means on saidsleeve for selectively applying a circumferential tension to saidsleeve, and a plurality of adjustable straps carried by said sleeve 1and adapted to'be wrapped around the knee-joint for applying additionalpressure to preselected areas of said joint, said plurality ofstraps'inclnding a lateral strap secured to said sleeve at the rearportion thereof, said lateral strap including a longitudinally dividedcross-strap and upper and lower angulated straps extending outwardlyindiverging relationship from the ends of said crossstrap, means fixed, onsaid sleeve and operably engaging said upper and lower straps foradjustably securing said upper and lower straps respectively adjacent tothe upper and lower edges of said sleeve, two diagonal straps adapted tocross in the rear of said brace, means for fixedly securing one end ofeach diagonal strap to said sleeve, and means for adjustably securingthe opposite end of each of said diagonal straps to a remote portion ofsaid sleeve.

4. A knee brace comprising a sleeve of flexible material for surroundingsubstantially the entire leg portion at the knee-area, two straps oneach side of said sleeve adjacent the knee joint, said straps beingwrapped around the knee in opposite directions with two straps above thekneecap and two straps below the kneecap, said straps adapted to overliesaid knee'in a generally diamond shaped configuration which surroundsthe kneecap, the lateral apices of said diamond shaped configurationadapted to overlie said sides of said knee joint, and means carried bysaid sleeve for securing the ends of said strapsto said sleeve.

5. A knee brace comprising a sleeve of flexible material for surroundingsubstantially the entire leg portion at the knee'area, a strap securedto said sleeve, said strap having two strap portions each of said strapporti ons being divided at an apex and including two angularly disposedend sections, said strap portions being adapted to being wrapped aboutthe knee in opposite directions with the apex of one strap portion to belocated on the inside surface of the knee, and the apex of the otherstrap portion on the outside surface of the knee, one section of eachstrap portion to pass above the knee joint and the other section belowthe knee joint, whereby said knee joint will be supported by strapportions of a generally diamond configuration, and means carried by saidsleevefor securing the ends of said strap portions to said sleeve.

6. A knee brace comprising a sleeve for surrounding substantially theentire leg at the knee area, said sleeve having pockets formed thereindisposed on opposite sides of said knee cap, a resilient foam pad ofsubstantially uniform thickness inserted in each of said pockets, atleast two angularly disposed strap portions carried by said sleeve ateach side of the knee area and adapted to be wound in oppositedirections about the wearers leg,

"said strap portions converging adjacent to the sides of the knee,whereby said strap portions are adapted to surround the knee cap area ina generally diamond shaped configuration, said strap portions overlyingsaid pads and applying pressure thereto, and means carried by saidsleeve for securing the ends of said strap portions to said sleeve.

7. A knee brace comprising a sleeve for surrounding substantially theentire leg portion at the knee area, a resilient pad carried by saidsleeve and disposed at opposite sides of a kneecap, at least twoangularly disposed straps carried by said sleeve at each side of saidknee and adapted to be wound in opposite directions about the wearersleg, said straps converging adjacent to the sides of the knee andadapted to surround the kneecap area in a generally diamond shapedconfiguration and overlying said pads to apply pressure thereto, andmeans carried by said sleeve for securing the ends of said straps tosaid sleeve.

8. A knee brace comprising a sleeve for surrounding substantially theentire leg portion at the knee area, a resilient pad carried by saidsleeve and disposed at opposite sides of a kneecap, at least twoangularly disposed straps carried by said sleeve at each side of saidknee and adapted to be wound in opposite directions about the wearersleg, said straps having elastic portions. converging adjacent to thesides of the knee and adapted to surround the kneecap area in agenerally diamond shaped configuration, said straps overlying said padsand applying pressure thereto, and means carried by said sleeve 'forsecuring the ends of said straps to said sleeve.

9. A knee brace comprising a sleeve for surrounding substantially theentire leg portion at the knee area, a

resilient pad carried by said sleeve and disposed at opposite sides of akneecap, two straps each secured at one end to said sleeve and adaptedto be wound in opposite directions about the wearers'leg, each saidstrap being split into two diverging strap portions, thejunction of saidstrap portions being locatedadjacent to the sides of the knee with onestrap portion passing above the knee and one strap portion passing belowthe knee, whereby said strap portions are adapted to surround'thekneecap area in a generally diamond shaped configuration, said strapsoverlying said pads and applying pressure thereto, and means carried bysaid sleeve for securing the ends of said strap portions to said sleeve-10. A knee brace comprising a sleeve for surrounding substantially theentire leg portion at the knee area, said sleeve having an opening inthe front portion thereof 7 through which the kneecap is exposed, aresilient pad carried by said sleeve and disposed at opposite sides ofsaid opening, at least two angularly disposed straps carried by saidsleeve at each side of said knee and adapted to be wound in oppositedirections about the wearers leg, said straps converging adjacent to thesides of the knee,'said straps adapted to surround the kneecap area in agenerally diamond shaped configuration and overlying said pads andapplying pressure thereto, and

means carried by said sleeve for securing the ends of said straps tosaid sleeve. V

'11. A knee brace comprising a sleeve for surrounding substantially theentire leg portion at the knee area, two straps each secured at one endto said sleeve and adapted to be wound in opposite directions about thewearers leg, each said strap being split into two diverging strapportions, the junction of said strap portions be ing located adjacent tothe'sides of the knee with one strap portion passing above the knee andone strap portion passing below the knee, whereby said strap portionsare adapted to surround the kneecap area in a generally diamond shapedconfiguration, and means carried by said sleeve for securing the ends ofsaid strap portions to said sleeve.

12. A knee brace comprising a sleeve for surrounding substantially theentire leg portion at the knee area, said sleeve having an opening inthe "front thereof through which said kneecap will be exposed; aresilient pad carried by said sleeve and disposed at opposite sides ofsaid opening, two straps each secured at one end to said sleeve ingstrap portions, the junction of said strap portions being locatedadjacent to the sides of the knee with one strap portion passing abovethe knee and one strap portion passing below the knee, whereby saidstrap portions are adapted to surround the kneecap area in a generallydiamond shaped configuration, said straps overlying said 5 pads andapplying pressure thereto, and means carried by said sleeve for securingthe ends of said strap portions to said sleeve.

13. A knee brace according to claim 12 in which at least that part ofeach said strap forming said diamond 10 shaped configuration is elastic.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,189,977 Lewis Iuly'4, 1916 15 Stall Mar. 5, 1918 Sheehan Aug. 23, 1921Sheehan Mar. 22, 1927 Closson Nov. 5, 1940 Smith Feb. 16, 1943 PeckharnApr. 19, 1949 Morrison Nov. 4, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Feb. 16,1929 Great Britain 1898 Germany May 17, 1922 Germany Aug. 26, 1931France Jan. 16, 1939

